Car-truck



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, W. S. G. BAKER.

GAP. TRUCK.

No. 415,892. Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

GAR TRUCK.

(No Model.)

No. 415.5892. Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

Witwen@ N. PETERS. Photo-Lithography, Wanhirlgn. ILC.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

IVILLIAM S.v Gr. BAKER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CAR-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,892, dated November 26, 1889.

Application filed May 22, 1889. Serial No. 311,653. (No model.)

To all whom it may concer/L:

Be it known that l, TILLIAM S. G. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carlrucks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention more especially relates to the organization of electric-railway, car-trucks and the trucks of cable-cars. In both of these classes of car-trucks it is usual to provide framesr'below the plane ot the axles on which the electric motor or thc grip mechanism is mounted. In the former class of trucks it is desirable to have the entire space under the car as free as possible from obstructions, so that the electric motor and its accompanying mechanism may be properly mounted, and in the latter class it is necessary to have a clear space at the center of the truck to accommodate the grip mechanism. i

My invention consists in an improved organization of the brake mechanism of the trucks, whereby the brake-shoes are mounted and operated Without interference Wit-h the grip mechanism or the electric-motor mechanism.

In carrying ont my invention I suspend the side beams of the depending frame from the axle-boxes, preferably, in the manner shown and described in my patent, No. 399,468, of March l2, 1889. Thebrake-shoes are mounted directly on the side beams, and the brakeshoe-operating mechanism is supported thereby. The cross-connecting beams of the depending frame heretofore used for supporting the brake-shoes are dispensed with.

In my improved truck as designed for gripcars rock-shafts on each side of the center of the truck are connected with the brake-shoes and are controlled by an operating-lever, whereby all the brakes may be simultaneously applied.

My truck as adapted for electric-1notorca1s `has the side beams connected by cross-beams near the center of the truck, and a central rock-shaft is provided, which is connected with and operates the several brake-shoes.

The details of construction andthe subjectmatter claimed will be hereinafter designated. y

The accompanying drawings show so much of an electric-motor-car truck and a cable-car truck embodying all my present improve ments in the best way known to me as is necessary to illustrate the subject-matter herein claimed.

Figure l represents a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, of one side of a truck especially constructed for electric-motor cars. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of part of a ear--truck adapted for cable-cars. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. is a side elevation of a modified form of. truck adapted for use in electricmotor cars. A

The truck represented in Figs. l and 2 is shown as organized as follows: Axle-boxes A are arranged in pedestals B, similar in details of organization to corresponding parts shown in Letters Patent No. 354,964, granted to me December 23, 1886, and No. 399,468, ot March l2, 1889. These pedestals are bolted to the car-sills C and strengthened by braces D, as--usual. The side beams E of the depending frame are secured to the lower ends ot brackets or down-hangers F, extending over the axle-boxes, as shown in my patent last above mentioned, and a removable bolt II connects the lower ends of the pedestal-arms to permit ot' the ready insertion or removal of the axle-boxes,wheels, and axles, as explained in said patent. Cross-beams J J', secured to the side beams E, may support the inner ends of the motors.

Brakes applied to the inner side ot each Wheel are shown as consisting ot brake-shoes L, of bell-crank form, connected by a central pivot Z With a lever L', in turn Working on a central pivot Z in a bracket L3 on the side beam E. The horizontal arm L2 of the shoe has one end of a coil-spring LAL secured to it, the other end being pivoted in the bracket L3, above mentioned. As the distance between the points of attachment of this spring to the bracket and shoe is equal to that between the pivots ot the rocking lever, the Wellknown parallel motion results, and the shoe is always pressed directly or in a right line against the Wheel, thus insuring full contact and accurate bearing. The lower ends of the rocking levers on each side are connected by a rope or chain m, provided with a tightening-linkm of Well-known construction to regulate the tension of the chain,

IOO

which passes under pulleys or sheaves M M' on the side beams and over an intermediate sheave n, connected by a stirrup-link a' with a crank-arm n? on a rock-shaft N, mounted on the side beams and extending across the frame between the cross-beams J J A lever N' on this rock-shaft may be connected by a chain n3 with a hand-wheel, as usual. This organization, it will be observed, dispenses with the usual brake-beams and horizontal levers, which would be in the way of the motor, the only parts of t-he frame and brakek mechanism extending across the truck between the axles being the cross-beams J J and the rock-shatt N; but these are so arranged as to be out ot the way of the motors, which may be arranged in the usual way.

The truck shown in Figs. and t is designed for cable cars. The side beams E are provided at each end with brackets F, and may be suspended from the axle-boxes, as shown in Fig. l. The cross-beams shown in my patent, No. 390,468, of March 12, 1889, are dispensed with, and the brake-shoes L are supported on the side beams by means ot brackets P and Q. The central bracket Q is preferably constructed with arms or flanges q, which embrace the beam E, and with a top portion Q', extending above the beam E on its inner side. Upwardly-projecting arms q' are formed on the extension Q', which are perforated to receive the ends ot the horizontal brake-guiding rods R. The rods R are rigidly secured at their inner ends to the brake-shoes L, and their opposite ends extend through the arms q'. The ends of the rods are provided wit-h nuts r, between which and the arms q' are interposed coiled springs r', which normally withdraw the brakeshoes from the wheels. The brackets P are provided with flan ges @which embrace the beam E, and are formed with journal-boxes I" for the rock-shafts S.

It will be understood that Fig. 4 shows a plan view of only one side of the truck, the other side being a duplicate of that shown. The brake-shoes are pivoted to links T, which are keyed to the rock-shafts S. The trame or housing U for the grip mechanism may be of any usual construction. A short rock-shaft N is journaled in the bracket Q at u and in the grip-frame at a', and is provided with an operating-lever N', which may be connected with a hand-wheel, if desired. Downwardlyprojecting arms L' are rigidly secured to the rock-shafts S on one side ot the space forthe grip mechanism and are connected by chains or cables m,which extend over sheaves M M', andv a central sheave n, which is connected by .a link n' with the arm. n2 of the lever r". This organization of brake-operating mechanism is similar to that shown in Figs. l and 2, and it will be understood that when the sheave n is lifted the chain or cable m is tightened, so as to rock the shafts S and apply the brake-shoes L to the wheels. sheaves M, M', and n are mounted in a brack- Th e' et V, secured to the grip-frame near the midV dle of t-he truck.

In 5 the side beam E is shown as provided with brackets F, as in the other figures, and the brake-shoes L are provided with guide-rods R, as in Figs. 3 and 4t. The central bracket Q is, however, slightly modified, being secured to the cross-beams J J' and made arch-shaped. One end of the rock-shaft N is shown having its bearings in a box N2, 'formed on the bracket, and the opposite end is similarly journaled on the opposite side of the truck. (Not shown.) The chains or cables m, sheaves M, M', and n, lever N', and link n' are arranged and operated as in the other figures of the drawings.

It will be noted that in every instance the brakes are supported by the side beams, and I have shown how the truck maybe modiiied 'for electric and cable cars.

An important feature of the invention is the' facility with which the wheels and motors may be removed. By simply removing the bolts H the wheels and axles may be slipped out of the pedestals without in any way disturbing the brake mechanism, and the motors may be removed with the axles in the usual way. In other car-trucks of this class it is necessary to disarrange the brake mechanism and take apart the framein order to remove the wheels and motors.

Having thus fully described the construction and organization of my improved cartruck and car-brake, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent.,

l. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the side beams and wheel-brakes, each mounted independently on the side beams.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the wheels, the side beams, the brake-shoes mounted on the side beams, and the springs mounted on the side beams for normally withdrawing the brakeshoes from the wheels.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the side beams, the brake-shoes mounted on the side beams, and the brake-operatin g mechanism su pported on the side beams. l

4. The combination, substantially as here- Ainbefore set forth, ofthe Wheel-brakes and a separate rocking lever for each brake pivoted on the side beamsof a car-truck.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the Wheel-brakes, the rocking levers on each of Which its respective wheel-brake is separately pivoted, the rocking-lever pivots on the side beams, and the springs intermediate of the side beam and brake-shoe.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbetore set forth, of a brake-shoe, its central pivot on an arm in turn rocking on a pivot intermediate of its length on a side beam of the truck, and a spring pivoted at one end on TOO ITO

the side beam and at the other ou an arm of the brake-shoe, thus constituting a parallel motion to insure a direct thrust of the brakeshoe on the wheel.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbcfore set forth, of a brakeshoe pivoted on a rocking arm in turn pivoted on the truckframe, a spring-support for the brake-shoe, a rope or chain traversing a sheave on the frame and connecting` this rocking lever with a crank-arm on a rock-shaft, a lever on this rock-shaft, and fiexihle connections between this lever and a hand-whecl to act-nate the brake.

S. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of brake-shoes pivoted on levers in tur'n rocking on the 4side beams of a truck-frame, sheaves on these side beams, a rope or chain connecting the brake-shoe levers and traversing the sheaves, an interposed sheave suspended from a crank-arm on a crossshaft, and a lever on the cross shaft, thus actuating both shoes simultaneously without the use of central levers and rods.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a brake-shoe for each wheel, corresponding brake-shoe levers pivoted on the truclcframe, ropes or chains connecting the brake-shoe levers on the same side of the truck, sheaves on the side beams traversed by these ropes, a cross-shaft rocking in bearings on the side beams, its crankarms, sheaves carried thereby interposed between the fixed sheaves, and an actuatinglever on the rock-shaft and between it and a hand-wheel, whereby all the brakes can be actuated by a single lever and yet have the center space of the truck unobstructed.

lO. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of car-axle boxes, downhangers resting thereon, side beams sup ported by the brackets, central cross-beams connecting the side beams, brackets on the -side beams, hrakeshoes pivoted thereon, a

rope or chain connecting the brake-shoes on each side and traversing sheaves on the side beams, a rock-shaft mounted on the side beams between its cross-beams, crank-arms on each end of the rock-shaft, sheaves carried thereby acting on the brake-ropes, a lever on the rock-shaft and near one end thereof, and flexible connections between the lever and its actuating hand-wheel, whereby the brakes can be actuated by a single lever, the center space of the truck remain unobstructed, and the wheels readily may be removed or replaced.

ll. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the Wheels, the side beams, the brake-shoes, the bracket Q., the horizontal guide-rods, and the springs on the ends of the guide-rods for normally holding the brake-shoes away from the wheels.

l2. rlhe combination, substantially hereinbefore set forth, of the side beams, the brake-shoes, the rock-shafts supported on the side beams beneath the brake-shoes, the downwardly-projecting arms or levers connecting the brake-shoes to the rock-shafts, and brakeoperating mechanism connected to the rockshafts.

13. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth,of the brakeshoes,the stationary sheaves M M', the movable sheaves In, flexible connections between the sheaves and the brake-shoes, and a roclcshaft having an operating-lever and connected with the sheave n to raise and lower it.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM S. G. BAKER.

lVitnessest J. PAUL BAKER, C. W. KOHLMANN. 

